Four different Eagles were recognized Monday afternoon for their outstanding performances last week.
Eliana Sheplee of the women's basketball team was named the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Player of the Week, while
Antonio Caito and
Luke Richardson swept the men's track and field Athlete of the Week honors from the Peach Belt Conference (PBC). Rounding out the accolades,
Mikaela Miles was named the PBC Women's Field Athlete of the Week.
For Sheplee, the honor marks her second consecutive Player of the Week award and the fifth time this season she has earned the distinction. The Rice Lake, Wisconsin native opened the week with a 27-point performance in a 76–66 win over Rollins. Along with her scoring output, Sheplee added eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals. In 35 minutes of action, the redshirt freshman shot 12-of-18 from the field, including a pair of three-pointers.
Sheplee followed that effort with a 23-point outing against Eckerd, playing all 40 minutes for the Eagles. She also grabbed four rebounds and recorded three steals. The performance marked her fifth consecutive game with at least 23 points. Sheplee currently leads the SSC in scoring at 20.8 points per game, shooting .517 from the field and over .850 from the free-throw line this season.
On the track, the Blue & Gold collected their first Peach Belt Conference Athlete of the Week honors this season, led by Caito. The junior delivered a dominant performance in the triple jump at the Alachua County Sports and Event Center Invite & Multi, breaking his own school record four times during the competition. Caito ultimately settled at 15.60m, a mark that not only secured first place at the meet but also ranks as the top jump in NCAA Division II this indoor season, standing 0.20 meters clear of the next-best performance nationally.
Joining Caito with weekly honors was freshman standout Luke Richardson, who continued his impressive start to his collegiate career. The Bethel, Connecticut native clocked a 21.56 in the 200-meter dash on day one of competition before returning the following day to run a 6.68 in the 60-meter dash. Both marks met NCAA Division II provisional standards. Richardson's 200m time now ranks second all-time in Embry-Riddle history, while his 60m performance established a new school record. The time also places him sixth nationally in Division II and first among all NCAA Division II freshmen.
On the women's side, Mikaela Miles earned her first Peach Belt Conference Field Athlete of the Week honor of the indoor season. Typically a triple jump specialist, Miles showcased her range at the Alachua County Sports and Event Center Invite & Multi with a standout performance in the long jump. She broke an 18-year-old school record with a mark of 5.74 meters, placing second in the event. The jump also met the NCAA Division II provisional standard, positioning Miles among the national contenders early in the indoor campaign.
